Home › Glossary › Orbitone

Orbitone

Q: Is Orbitone natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Synthetic molecule. Manufactured through chemical synthesis. Available as a commodity ingredient..

POPULAR AND WEIRD / woody · warm · earthy

Orbitone

Category	POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	woody · warm · earthy
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	N/A (synthetic molecule)
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	N/A (synthetic molecule)
Pyramid	Heart

Woody, warm, and iris-adjacent. Orbitone is a synthetic molecule with a velvety woody-powdery character — like suede-covered cedar, bridging the gap between dry wood and powdery iris.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Warm, woody-powdery with a suede-like texture. Drier than sandalwood. Softer than cedarwood. The powdery quality suggests iris territory without the buttery richness of actual orr is. The overall impression is of well-worn suede or a velvet curtain in a warm room.

Less radiant than Iso E Super, which has a more penetrating, almost salty transparency. Orbitone is quieter and more inward.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Warm, woody-powdery — suede and soft cedar

After a few hours

Deepening velvety warmth, iris-adjacent powder

After a few days

Persistent, quiet, woody-suede base

The Full Story

Orbitone is a synthetic fragrance compound with a warm, woody character that carries powdery-iris qualities. It sits at the intersection of woody and powdery olfactory families — drier than sandalwood, less sharp than cedar, with a suede-like softness that suggests iris or orris without the full floral dimension.

The molecule provides a velvety woodiness that is neither purely structural (like cedryl acetate) nor purely ambery (like Ambroxan). Its particular utility is in compositions that need warm, woody depth with a powdery elegance — the kind of wood note that reads as clean rather than raw.

Orbitone is used across fine fragrance and functional perfumery applications. Its blending versatility and neutral elegance make it a useful tool in a wide range of composition styles.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Ambramone · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Did You Know?

Did you know?

The 'orbit' in Orbitone references its molecular structure — a cyclic ketone. Many synthetic woody odorants are based on cyclohexanone or decalone ring systems, and their names often playfully reference their chemical geometry.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Synthetic molecule. Manufactured through chemical synthesis. Available as a commodity ingredient.

Molecular Formula	C₁₆H₃₀O
CAS Number	13254-34-7
Botanical Name	N/A (synthetic molecule)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	12 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	~310 °C

In Perfumery

Orbitone is a base note providing velvety woody-powdery depth. It bridges woody and powdery-iris compositions, adding elegance without density. Useful in woody, powdery, iris, and skin-scent fragrance families. works with Iso E Super, sandalwood molecules, musks, and orr is materials. Its neutrality makes it a background enhancer rather than a character note.